A very honest & straightforward perspective

on the subject of DJ's & pricing in our market...

~We know very well that pricing will most likely be a very important and perhaps

a determining factor in who you will hire to provide the entertainment at your wedding.

You have probably noticed that there are a lot of DJ companies in the Oregon and SW Wash. area to choose from. You will also find there is a wide range of pricing starting as low as $200 and going as high as $2,400.

What you spend on your entertainment will ultimately be determined by what aspects of your wedding you value the most and what you value will most likely be shaped by your prevailing perceptions about weddings.

Many of the most common perceptions are based in tradition, but also consider that most brides, maybe even yourself, turn to bridal publications for tips and advice. Also consider that most of these publications have a strong focus on "image" and not so much on the "experience" that you and your guests are going to have.

When it comes to Djs they are generally just telling their readers to make sure they have "music" for their day. If you are putting your trust in this source of information there is a good possibility that your primary focus will also be "image" and you may not feel it necessary to place a high value on the entertainment aspect of your wedding. Why is this?  If a publication you are investing your trust in is telling you to just look for music and nothing else,  it is perhaps not too difficult to think "anyone can push play on a cd player or cue up a song on an ipod, so why should I worry about something that is so easy to do?"

This line of thinking will generally lead to one of many variations of the scenario described below.

( Also watch the videos below, they speak for themselves )

1. Since the entertainment is not a priority it is put off and put off again until it can't be put off any longer. The bride will start calling around getting price quotes. She believes she is just looking for music, so she is going to look for the best deal she can find. (If the bride's primary focus early on was "image" there is a good chance the vast majority of the wedding budget has been spent and she has little choice but to hire a low end DJ)

2. She hires a very inexpensive Dj without interviewing or checking references.

3. It is a week before the weddng and she realizes she needs to talk to the DJ about music selections for the ceremony and special moments. The Dj is slow to respond and shows little interest in offering any real customer service. The bride's stress levels begin to rise.

4. The DJ shows up to the event and the bride's stress level skyrockets because the DJ is not appropriately dressed and can barely remember her name. In addition the sound gear is sub standard and much of the important music is miscued. The Dj station looks unsightly, wires are exposed and hanging off of the DJ table. The DJ may even attempt to sing on top of the music, wear funny hats and dance on top of the speakers.

5. The guests begin to come up with creative excuses as to why they are leaving early. (They are going to be polite and not tell her that she made a poor choice)

6. Both the bride and groom suffer embarrassment as they realize although everything really "looked" beautiful, it was not enough to ensure that they and their guests were going to have a genuinley fun, memorable & stress free experience.

These brides, whether they knew it or not, did not place a very high value on the "experience" aspect of their wedding day and by default hired someone who also did not place a high value on their wedding experience. If you truly value and want your wedding reception to be emotionally uplifting, meaningful and unforgettable, you will want to hire someone who values your wedding experience as much as you do... That is a rare find in this market, and not to toot our own horn too loudly but you have found a company that does just that.

We advise all brides to narrow their search to about 3 or 4 djs that they have a good feeling about based on the information they get from websites or word of mouth. Once the choices are narrowed down schedule interviews with all of them. Ask for references, have a list of questions prepared & ask to see video clips. Most importantly, always go with your intuition. This is the person that is going to represent you to your guests on a very important day of your life...

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Layla and Jeffrey, give us a call or visit our contact page to let us know you are interested in getting a quote. We will be happy to interview with you to determine if we would be a good match for your needs and personality. If we are not a good match we will gladly give you a referral list of other Djs in our market that may be a good match for you.